The Anti-Money Laundering Office (Amlo) is seeking information from its foreign counterparts regarding 21 Thai nationals reportedly included in a list of people worldwide using a Panama-based law firm for money laundering and tax evasion.

(NOTE: It is not clear how Amlo reached this number. In fact, the Panama Papers include at least 780 names of individuals and another 50 names of companies based in Thailand. Some are foreigners or foreign-owned companies. There are 634 individual addresses listed in Thailand.)

Pol Col Seehanat Prayoonrat, the acting Amlo secretary-general, made the comments following a report by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) which cited leaked documents from law firms that have been assisting politicians and leaders worldwide -- including the 21 Thai nationals -- to carry out the illicit acts.

He said he has so far obtained information only from the media.

Normally, any country that detects money laundering carried out by an individual of another nation must share their information with authorities of that country, he said.

He added he could not say how long it would take to obtain such information.

Government spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd said Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha was aware of the reports.

Source:
courtesy of BANGKOK POST

by Bangkok Post

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